IMB Annual Reports
768 annual reports from Independent Monitoring Boards covering 171 establishments. IMBs provide independent oversight of prisons, immigration removal centres, and secure training centres. Source: imb.org.uk.
768
Reports
171
Establishments
757
With Key Concerns
Establishment Type
Reports by Year
Key Findings
99% of IMB reports flag key concerns.
Independent monitors cover 171 establishments
across prisons, immigration removal centres and secure training centres.
Yarl’s Wood IRC
IRC
Concerns
Self-harm: 57
Staff assaults: 7
Yarl's Wood IRC experienced a 40% increase in detainee throughput in 2024, operating close to its 444-person capacity. While staff are commended for humane treatment and effective incident management, concerns persist regarding high levels of violence, inappropriate detention of vulnerable individuals, and poor information sharing. The Board highlights issues with prolonged detention, slow casework progression, and the inappropriate use of the CSU for mental health cases, noting that staff recruitment and retention remain challenging.
Key concerns identified
- Persistent high levels of violence, linked to the proportion of Time Served Foreign National Offenders (TSFNOs) and detainee frustration over prolonged detention.
- Inappropriate detention of vulnerable individuals with significant mental health problems, including their prolonged housing in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) due to a shortage of specialist beds and poor information sharing from prisons.
- Safeguarding concerns, including the shared CSU for male and female detainees and issues with visual access between male and female units leading to unwelcome comments.
- Lengthy and uncertain detention periods, especially for TSFNOs, contributing to detainee frustration, anger, and deteriorating mental health, compounded by slow casework progression and bail accommodation delays.
- Inconsistent application of rules and potentially inhumane treatment, such as threats of force for administrative transfers and routine handcuffing of detainees during hospital visits.
- Challenges in healthcare provision due to a lack of medical history for new arrivals, particularly from the prison estate, which delays essential medication and assessment.
- Inappropriate detention of vulnerable individuals with significant mental health problems, including their prolonged housing in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) due to a shortage of specialist beds and poor information sharing from prisons.
- Safeguarding concerns, including the shared CSU for male and female detainees and issues with visual access between male and female units leading to unwelcome comments.
- Lengthy and uncertain detention periods, especially for TSFNOs, contributing to detainee frustration, anger, and deteriorating mental health, compounded by slow casework progression and bail accommodation delays.
- Inconsistent application of rules and potentially inhumane treatment, such as threats of force for administrative transfers and routine handcuffing of detainees during hospital visits.
- Challenges in healthcare provision due to a lack of medical history for new arrivals, particularly from the prison estate, which delays essential medication and assessment.
Yarl’s Wood IRC
IRC
Concerns
Self-harm: 29
Yarl's Wood IRC experienced a challenging year with a marked increase in violence and self-harm incidents, linked to higher occupancy and a greater proportion of TSFNOs. The Board raised significant concerns about the length of detention, the fragility of the centre's infrastructure, and the unsuitable environment of the CSU for detainees with mental health crises. Despite staffing improvements, issues persist with communication about immigration cases and the oversight of Rule 35 reports.
Key concerns identified
- There has been a marked increase in violence at Yarl’s Wood, linked to increased occupancy and the proportion of Time-Served Foreign National Offenders (TSFNOs).
- The centre’s fabric has been exposed as fragile during major incidents, raising questions about its fitness for the purpose of detention.
- Length of detention remains a significant issue, with increasing periods for both men and women, and poor communication about case progression contributing to detainee frustration.
- Detainees with severe mental health crises are being kept in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) whilst waiting for transfers to external mental health beds, in an environment deemed unsuitable.
- There is little or no oversight or auditing of Rule 35 applications, making it unclear which governing body ensures their quality.
- Women on the Nightingale unit feel exposed and uncomfortable due to men on the Crane unit being able to see them in the outdoor exercise area.
- The centre’s fabric has been exposed as fragile during major incidents, raising questions about its fitness for the purpose of detention.
- Length of detention remains a significant issue, with increasing periods for both men and women, and poor communication about case progression contributing to detainee frustration.
- Detainees with severe mental health crises are being kept in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) whilst waiting for transfers to external mental health beds, in an environment deemed unsuitable.
- There is little or no oversight or auditing of Rule 35 applications, making it unclear which governing body ensures their quality.
- Women on the Nightingale unit feel exposed and uncomfortable due to men on the Crane unit being able to see them in the outdoor exercise area.
Yarl’s Wood
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 18
Assaults: 15
Staff assaults: 14
Yarl’s Wood IRC experienced a shift to a male-only population, including a significant increase in foreign national offenders, during the reporting year. The Board noted an increase in violence, self-harm incidents, and use of force, alongside persistent challenges with staff recruitment, retention, and communication due to language barriers. While healthcare provision was largely commended, concerns remain regarding the length of detention, delays in bail releases, and the need for more comprehensive planning for release and resettlement, particularly for FNOs.
Key concerns identified
- An increase in violence, including physical and verbal altercations between residents and assaults on staff.
- Increasing numbers of Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) experiencing long lengths of stay without the removal process starting in prison.
- Delays in securing interpreters, leading to communication difficulties and isolation for non-English speakers.
- Detainees granted bail experiencing significant delays in release due to a lack of suitable accommodation.
- The length of detention and uncertainty contributing to mental health issues, violence, depression, and self-harm.
- Inadequate transfer of ACCT paperwork for men released into the community and insufficient mental health information from prisons.
- Increasing numbers of Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) experiencing long lengths of stay without the removal process starting in prison.
- Delays in securing interpreters, leading to communication difficulties and isolation for non-English speakers.
- Detainees granted bail experiencing significant delays in release due to a lack of suitable accommodation.
- The length of detention and uncertainty contributing to mental health issues, violence, depression, and self-harm.
- Inadequate transfer of ACCT paperwork for men released into the community and insufficient mental health information from prisons.
Yarl’s Wood
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 16
Staff assaults: 0
This IMB annual report for Yarl’s Wood IRC covers 2021, a challenging year marked by the Covid-19 pandemic and the transition to accommodate predominantly male detainees. The Board commends the centre's management for maintaining a safe environment with low Covid-19 cases, high quality healthcare, and generally fair treatment. However, significant concerns remain regarding the identification and support of vulnerable individuals, the clarity of induction for short-stay detainees, and the comprehensive tracking and resolution of complaints.
Key concerns identified
- Vulnerable adults may not be properly identified and may be released without appropriate support.
- Procedures for notification, investigation, and resolution of complaints are concerning.
- RSTHF detainees often do not fully understand their situation, leading to anxiety and anger.
- High numbers of arrivals make it challenging to identify vulnerable individuals and lead to limited communication.
- Trafficking victims are likely under-identified due to high throughput and short stays.
- The centre struggles with language issues, preventing clear communication of procedures.
- Procedures for notification, investigation, and resolution of complaints are concerning.
- RSTHF detainees often do not fully understand their situation, leading to anxiety and anger.
- High numbers of arrivals make it challenging to identify vulnerable individuals and lead to limited communication.
- Trafficking victims are likely under-identified due to high throughput and short stays.
- The centre struggles with language issues, preventing clear communication of procedures.
Yarl’s Wood
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 12
Assaults: 3
This report details the IMB's monitoring of Yarl's Wood IRC for 2020, a year marked by significant operational changes due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a shift from a predominantly women's IRC to a male Short-Term Holding Facility (STHF). The Board commends management and staff for maintaining a safe environment and effective healthcare, including an increase in mental health provisions, despite challenges. Key concerns include the identification and support of vulnerable individuals and minors within the STHF population, issues with information quality from external reception teams, and limitations in the Board's ability to monitor complaint outcomes.
Key concerns identified
- Vulnerable adults and minors may not be properly identified or supported upon release from STHF.
- Poor communication and inadequate information from Dover (Kent Intake Unit) regarding arriving detainees.
- Lack of transparency and inability to monitor the investigation and outcome of complaints from other agencies.
- STHF detainees often do not understand the induction process or the expected length of their detention.
- Risk of Covid-19 cross-contamination due to reverse cohorting of STHF detainees and non-dedicated staff.
- Withdrawal of the Board's access to the computerised custodial management system (CMS) and Centre manager's reports.
- Poor communication and inadequate information from Dover (Kent Intake Unit) regarding arriving detainees.
- Lack of transparency and inability to monitor the investigation and outcome of complaints from other agencies.
- STHF detainees often do not understand the induction process or the expected length of their detention.
- Risk of Covid-19 cross-contamination due to reverse cohorting of STHF detainees and non-dedicated staff.
- Withdrawal of the Board's access to the computerised custodial management system (CMS) and Centre manager's reports.